Kathy Whatley

Principal / Special Education Teacher

Upward Hope Academy

I was a certified Special Education teacher for 8 years. In 2007 I decided to start my own school for students who were not functioning in a public school setting. I now have the only fully accrediated , tution free, private high school in Texas.We recieve no state or federal money and rely soley on granst and donations. This has been a diffucult year as we have been unable to hold any fundraisers. Yet we still continue to have in person classes and support our students. We also do not have an age limit for our online classes so those who quit school and are now unable to support themselves can finish their education. We have a 95% graduation rate and our students go on to earn certificates that enable them to earn a living. Our school is 13 years old and has graduated over 900 students.

Sessions in which Kathy Whatley attends

Thursday 4 February, 2021

Time Zone: (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

8:15 AM

Thursday Keynote: NASA Keynote Astronaut Kjell N. Lindgren

1 hour, 8:15 AM CST - 9:15 AM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Keynote Speaker

Keynote

Daniel Newmyer, Space Center Houston (Presenter)

Dr. Kjell N. Lindgren was selected by NASA in 2009. He spent most of his childhood abroad and returned to the U.S. to complete his education and ea...

9:45 AM

Understanding Space Habitats: A Challenge-Based Approach

1 hour 30 minutes, 9:45 AM CST - 11:15 AM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 7

Session

Steven Smith, Johnson Space Center (Presenter)

This session will help teachers use the fascination of humans in space to create analogies for biological habitats, ecological systems, civil engin...

12:45 PM

Asteroid Explorers! NASA ROADS on Asteroids Student Challenge

1 hour 30 minutes, 12:45 PM CST - 2:15 PM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 8

Session

Celena Miller, SEEC Crew - Center for Space Research (Presenter)

Nicole Lunning, NASA - Johnson Space Center (Presenter)

Margaret Baguio, NASA Texas Space Grant Consortium (Presenter)

The Mission: Plan and simulate a trip to asteroid Vesta including an impactor, drone landing and takeoff, and robotic navigation across potential s...

2:30 PM

Preparing for Perseverance with NASA’s Card Game for the Space Age!

1 hour 30 minutes, 2:30 PM CST - 4:00 PM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 6

Session

Michael McGlone, NASA/NSPACE (Presenter)

Jessica Sain, NASA - Johnson Space Center (Presenter)

Let your classroom join along as NASA goes forward to the Moon and on to Mars with a new card game intended for educational audiences. This interac...

Friday 5 February, 2021

Time Zone: (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

10:00 AM

Pulling Back the Curtain to Reach the Stars: From the 'Hood to Jupiter

45 minutes, 10:00 AM CST - 10:45 AM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 5

Session

Mr. LeRoy Davis Larry, Jr. Jr., Natural Physics Global Outreach (Presenter)

Isaac Akin-Olamigoke, Oke Iragbiji Grammar School (Presenter)

Mr. Bruce Callow, Costa Rica Institute of Technology /Universidad del Valle de Guatemala Publishing House (Presenter)

Are you looking for innovative techniques to inspire inner-city youth and young women to gain footholds in the space industry?In this highly ...

11:00 AM

Challenging Students Through Their Participation in Space-Based Research

1 hour 30 minutes, 11:00 AM CST - 12:30 PM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 5

Session

Thomas Drummond, Orion's Quest (Presenter)

Angela Krause-Kuchta, Orion’s Quest (Presenter)

Learn how students can participate online in an authentic ISS experiment, focusing on a biofilm experiment and introducing a new materials science ...

12:45 PM

Connecting with Creativity: Proactive Steps to Improving Connections for Yourself, Your Colleagues and Your Community

45 minutes, 12:45 PM CST - 1:30 PM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 9

Session

Dan Klein, What Comes Next LLC (Presenter)

Jim Oswald, Space Center Houston (Presenter)

Isolation is one of the most significant hazards astronauts confront as they explore space. Given t...

Saturday 6 February, 2021

Time Zone: (GMT-06:00) Central Time (US & Canada)

8:45 AM

Energize Your Science Classroom Using Authentic Research!

45 minutes, 8:45 AM CST - 9:30 AM CST

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 1

Session

Justin Hickey, Episcopal High School (Presenter)

Eileen Grzybowski, Norman Public Schools (Presenter)

Jimmy Newland, Bellaire High School/University of Houston (Presenter)

Olivia Kuper, North Greene High School (Presenter)

Presenters will share their experience working on a Stellar Spectroscopy Research Project using the 2.1 meter Otto Struve telescope at McDonald Obs...

9:30 AM

Inspiring Students through Innovation Challenges

45 minutes, 9:30 AM CST - 10:15 AM CST

Signup required

Space Center Houston (Hosting of all events take place on-line-virtually) - Virtual Classroom 1

Session

Chaka Jaliwa, Space Center Houston (Presenter)

Inspiring students to be curious and engaged is one of the most challenging tasks that a teacher ca...